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Groove Armada (UK)
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September 10, 21:00
From the moment he could stand up without falling down Andy Cato's jazz musician father introduced him to the piano and trombone. His talent was obvious and one of his earliest achievements was playing for a colliery brass band. Then, in 1987, he won Yorkshire's Young Jazz Musician of the Year award. However, he credits his cousin Digs (a member of the cult house collective DIY) for his induction into the acid house explosion that swept the length and breadth of Britain. "We crossed the country in my Hillman, stopping at service stations and waiting for the phone call with the final location...the DIY parties; Basics [Leeds], Hacienda [Manchester], Kaos 1989-95 were like nothing I've seen anywhere in the world". In 1991, Andy moved to London. "I was in Brixton on the dole, with a bedroom studio bought with a bank loan, teaching myself all aspects of the business. During this time I went through every music business cliche of management sharks, record company politics and missed opportunities. Success? In the end, it's just like your Gran always said. Stick at it." Tom Findlay discovered at a very young age that his life would be defined by the obscure funk and soul 45" discs he played non-stop. Throughout his youth, his music tastes evolved to embrace everything from punk, jazz, disco, Black Sabbath and electro before, eventually, he discovered house music. He'd set about learning keyboard and guitar in his bedroom, and by the age of 16 he was DJing at parties. From Cambridge, Tom became a familiar face in the free-rave scene. In 1991, he signed up to Manchester University. Upon realising that he spent more time in the Hacienda nightclub than at lectures, he and a few likeminded friends launched what would become hugely successful music careers by beginning their own weekly club night. Then Tom embarked on a lifelong love affair with the sound of black America, a groove that would form the foundation of all of his later productions.
Having met in the early 1990's, not long after they'd started discussing music Tom and Andy were promoting their first London club night together. Called 'Captain Sensual at the Helm of Groove Armada' it took place at the Gardening Club 2, Covent Garden, getting off to a shaky start. However it was this night in 1995 which led to a series of parties, a band and eventually a festival. All of these grew from strength to strength and continue to thrive in their individual rights to this day.
By 1997 they released a handful of singles, including "4 Tune Cookie" and "At the River"; their debut album "Northern Star" followed the next year. Issued in 1999, "Vertigo" made the Top 20 of the British charts and silver status in the U.K. The album's singles achieved similar heights, including "I See You Baby," which was remixed by Fatboy Slim.
The group followed this success with a stint as Elton John's opening band and with the U.S. release of "Vertigo" in early 2000. An album of remixes followed shortly after, featuring post-productions by DJ Icey and Tim "Love" Lee. After releasing a mix album "Back to Mine" the duo returned with a sophomore production effort, 2001's Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub).
Two years later "Lovebox" highlighted a new kind of funk for Groove Armada, with kitschy vibes and collaborative efforts coming from Neneh Cherry, Nappy Roots, and R&B chanteuse Sunshine Anderson. "Soundboy Rock", released in 2007, continued the emphasis on catchy hooks and became the fourth straight GA album to reach the British Top Ten. "Black Light" was released three years later.
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